Windies Women whitewashed

SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – A lacklustre all-round display from West Indies Women proved their undoing, as they slumped to an eight-wicket defeat to Australia Women to suffer an embarrassing whitewash in the four-match Twenty20 International series here yesterday.

Entering the contest at Stadium Australia 3-0 down in the series and needing a win to avoid a clean sweep, the Windies Women never hit their best form and surrendered meekly.

Opting to bat first, they were kept to 107 for seven off their 20 overs, with Shemaine Campbelle the only player to pass 20 with a crucial run-a-ball 34.

Seamer Ellyse Perry was the best bowler with three for nine while left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen chipped in with two for eight.

Opener Elyse Villani then led the hosts’ run chase, stroking an unbeaten59 while Player-of-the-Series Jess Jonassen supported with 31, as Australia Women strolled to their target off the first ball of the 15h over.

The series result confirmed the Windies Women poor form on the road, following on from a similar whitewash against New Zealand on the T20 and one-day tour at the start of the year.

West Indies Women once again started poorly, crashing to 36 for four in the seventh over with Perry the main destroyer, snatching three of the wickets to fall.

Campbelle and Shanel Daley, with 19 off 32 balls, staged a recovery of sorts by posting 24 for the fifth wicket before Jonassen struck twice in successive overs.

She removed Daley caught and bowled before knocking over captain Merissa Aguilleira for seven, to leave West Indies women struggling again on 75 for six at the end of the 16th over.

Campbelle, who struck three fours and a six, then put on 30 for the seventh wicket with Shaquana Quintyne (15) to give the Caribbean side impetus at the end.

Any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed when Villani and Jonassen put on a fluent 81 off 65 balls for the first wicket, as the Aussie run chase began well.

Villani faced 45 balls and counted five fours and a six while Jonassen struck four fours in a 33-ball knock. Though Jonassen and captain Meg Lanning (5) fell in the space of 11 balls, Villani remained steady to see the Aussies home.